The genus Lilium are herbaceous flowering plants growing from bulbs. Most species are native to the temperate northern
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| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
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| Genus: | Lilium L |
hemisphere. They comprise a genus of about 110 species in the lily family (Liliaceae).
They are important as large showy flowering garden plants. Additionally, they are important culturally and in literature in much of the world. Some species are sometimes grown or harvested for the edible bulbs.
The species in this genus are the true lilies. Many other plants exist with "lily" in the common English name, some of which are quite unrelated to the true lilies.
The range of lilies in the Old World extends across much of Europe, across most of Asia to Japan, south to the Nilgiri mountains in India, and to the Philippines. In the New World they extend from southern Canada through much of the United States.
They are commonly adapted to either woodland habitats, often montane, or sometimes to grassland habitats. A few can survive in marshland and epiphytes are known in southeast Asia (including L. arboricola). In general they prefer moderately acidic or lime-free soils.
Lilies are leafy stemmed herbs. They form naked or tunic-less scaly underground bulbs from which they overwinter. In some North American species the base of the bulb develops into rhizomes, on which numerous small bulbs are found. Some species develop stolons. Most bulbs are deeply buried, but a few species form bulbs near the soil surface. Many species form stem-roots. With these, the bulb grows naturally at some depth in the soil, and each year the new stem puts out adventitious roots above the bulb as it emerges from the soil. These roots are in addition to the basal roots that develop at the base of the bulb.
Most species are deciduous, but a few species (Lilium candidum, Lilium catesbaei) bear a basal rosette of leaves during dormancy.
Seeds ripen in late summer. They exhibit varying and sometimes complex germination patterns, many adapted to cool temperate climates.
The large flowers have six tepals, are often fragrant, and come in a range of colours ranging through whites, yellows, oranges, pinks, reds and purples. Markings include spots, brush strokes and picotees. The plants are summer flowering.
Some species formerly included within this genus have now been placed in other genera. These include Cardiocrinum, Notholirion, Nomocharis and some Fritillaria.
Meaning:
The Lily flower symbolizes purity and refined beauty. Based on the colour or type, the Lily flower can convey different meanings
| Colour/Type of Lily | Symbolic Meaning |
| White lily | Modesty and virginity |
| Orange lily | Passion |
| Yellow lily | Gaiety |
| Lily of the valley | Sweetness and purity of heart |
| Easter lily | Symbol of Virgin Mary |
Propagation:
Liliums can be propagated in several ways;
by division of the bulbs,
by growing-on bulbils which are adventitious bulbs formed on the stem,
by scaling, for which whole scales are detached from the bulb and planted to form a new bulb,
by seed; there are many seed germination patterns, which can be complex.
by micropropagation techniques; commercial quantities of lilies are often propagated in vitro and then planted out to grow into salable sized plants.
Growing Lilies:
Lilies are propagated mainly by means of Bulbs. They are also grown from seeds, scales, bulbils and bulblets. One can buy lily bulbs online or from a local bulb vendor.
Although the lilies grown from seeds are more disease resistant, the only disadvantage with growing lilies from seeds is that the lily plants take a longer time to bloom, may be, in some cases, even five to six years. Hence, bulbs are very much preferred to grow lilies.
· Lilies are usually planted during fall or spring in the garden.
· Lilies can also be grown in containers or in outdoors.
· A cool, porous and well drained soil is essential for good growth of lilies.
· Adding large amounts of organic matter will improve clay or sandy soils. The bulbs will stay in place for several years, so good bed preparation is an investment for the future.
· The ideal location will for Lilies provides direct sun all morning during the summer, with partial shade during hot afternoon hours.
· When selecting bulbs, be sure they do not look dry or shrivel, and plant them immediately.
· Proper spacing usually is 12 to 18 inches apart, but it varies according to the variety selected.
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Lilies Plant Care:
· Lilies do not require daily watering, but when watering, be sure to water deeply enough to reach the bulb.
· Feed the plants with a balanced fertilizer every few weeks during the growing season. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers.
· Remove seedpods when they appear.
· Also, remove stems and foliage when leaves become yellow.
· Mulch should be removed in late fall.
· Keep lilies blooming by removing blossoms as they fade. This prevents the plant from expending its energy in producing seed.
Species and Uses:
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Common Uses |
| Lilium auratum | Japanese golden rayed lily | Lily from Japan, white bowl shaped flowers with a golden ray down the centre of petals and crimson spots. The flowers are fragrant and will make a great cut flower. |
| Lilium bulbiferum | Orange lily | The bulbs edible. Sweet and mealy, these lilies make very fair eating and can be used as a substitute to potato. |
| Lilium canadense | Canada lily | Scented use |
| Lilium candidum | Madonna lily | The bulb is employed for medicinal purposes, having highly demulcent and also astringent properties. |
| Lilium henryi | Henry's lily | relieve congestion, and the nausea and vomiting of pregnancy |
| Lilium japonicum | Krameri | nourishing and useful in diseases of the chest |
| Lilium tigrinum | Tiger lily | Lily from China with light glowing orage colored flowers with purplish black spots and protruding stamens. They are late flowering, black stem bulbils with stem rooting |
| Lilium lancifolium | Tiger lily | produce edible bulbs |
| Lilium longiflorum | Easter lily | Rrumpet shaped, white and waxy flowers that are early flowering and stem rooting, mostly used in flower beds |
| Lilium martagon | Martagon lily, Turkscap lily | The bulb has diuretic, emmenagogue, emollient and expectorant properties. They are used to relieve heart diseases, pain in the cardiac region and angina pectoris. |
| Lilium pardalinum | Panther lily | The flowers are 1.5 metres tall, red in color with a yellow centre and maroon spots on it, the bulbs of which are edible. |
| Lilium regale | Regal lily | Plant in groups integrated in a perennial border. |
| Lilium speciosum | Japanese lily | The flowers diffuse a powerful sweet honey perfume. |
Some Interesting Facts about Lilies:
Lilies are one of the most beautiful, and graceful of all summer-blooming flowers.
· Lilies belong to the Lilium genus consisting of less than 100 known species, occurring in all parts of the Northern Hemisphere.
· Lilium, the genus, is the Latin form of the Greek word 'Lerion' for the Madonna Lily.
· Red lily was first described by the famous Swedish botanist Carl von Linne (Linnaeus) in 1753.
· Lilies are believed to have been under cultivation longer than any other ornamental flower, having existed in gardens 3,000 years ago.Floral designs, particularly of Lilies, made their appearance and became very popular in the 18th dynasty of Egypt.
· Madonna lily (Lilium candidum) is the archetypal flower symbolising purity. The association of Madonna Lily with the Virgin Mary dates back to an early Christian legend, in which her tomb was filled with Lilies after her assumption into heaven.
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